Define the variable: Let the number be x .
Formulate the equation: 4 x + 3 = 11 .
Solve for x : Subtract 3 from both sides, then divide by 4.
The number is: 2 .
Explanation
Problem Analysis Let's analyze the problem. We are given that four times a number plus 3 is 11. We need to find the value of this number. Let's call the number 'x'. We can write the given information as an equation: 4 x + 3 = 11 .
Isolating the term with x Now, let's solve the equation for x. First, we subtract 3 from both sides of the equation: 4 x + 3 − 3 = 11 − 3 4 x = 8
Solving for x Next, we divide both sides of the equation by 4 to isolate x: 4 4 x = 4 8 x = 2
Finding the Number Therefore, the number is 2.
Examples
Imagine you're baking cookies and the recipe requires a certain amount of flour. You know that if you add 3 cups of sugar and then multiply the amount of flour by 4, you'll have a total of 11 cups of ingredients. This problem helps you determine how many cups of flour you need to start with. Understanding how to solve such equations is crucial in everyday tasks like adjusting recipes, managing budgets, or planning project timelines.